With a 14-0 dismantling of South Pointe, the Catawba Ridge Copperheads softball team clinched a playoff spot.
Starter Chloe Burger pitched a complete game three-hitter and struck out a dozen to keep South Pointe off balanced all game. Catawba Ridge finished their Region 3-4A schedule with a 9-3 record and a 18-7 overall record as they will open up the playoffs next weekend on the road.
The Copperheads were supposed to play York in the region final this coming Tuesday, but the Cougars forfeited. Catawba Ridge is coming off about two weeks with only playing one game and will have to wait another week to play another game.
“I would like to have a game next week,” said Copperheads’ head coach Michael Kidd. “We can’t let a week off hurt us. We played well. I am just glad to be playing.”
Catawba Ridge certainly didn’t let time off from their last game April 26 hurt them against South Pointe. Despite the offensive onslaught, the Copperheads had just seven hits in the game leading to their 14 runs. South Pointe struggled with their pitching allowing eight walks, five of them coming in the first inning.
Catawba Ridge scored seven runs in the first inning on three hits and five walks and was led by a three-run home run by Audrey Wilson, the first home run ever at home by the Copperheads, and a two-run double by Lexi Haskett.
The Copperheads scored five runs in the third inning on three hits and another three walks from South Pointe. Janelle Ilacqua went 2-3 with an RBI and Wilson went 1-3 with three RBI in the game, as Haskett finished going 1-3 as well.
Catawba Ridge added two more runs on an Ilacqua double in the fourth inning before the Copperheads were able to put the game away in the fifth on the 10-run mercy rule.
Softball
Fort Mill picked up a 7-1 win over Gaffney to finish its Region 3-5A schedule. The win improved Fort Mill to 12-3 overall and 7-1 in the region. They are scheduled to finish their regular season Monday at home against Lancaster before starting the 5A playoffs next weekend.
Baseball
Fort Mill beat Catawba Ridge 11-6 to sweep the season series against the Copperheads and improve to 15-10 on the season. Dusty Sanderlin led the Jackets going 3-3 with a grand slam and knocking in seven RBI to pace Fort Mill. Keenan Sumner went 3-3 as well with two RBI as the Jackets scattered 13 hits. Sanderlin also got the win on the mound going four innings and allowing five runs on five hits. Tyler Levy and Lane Boutwell each got two hits for Catawba Ridge, who fell to 15-9-1 overall.
Nation Ford lost 6-4 to AC Flora on the road despite getting nine hits in the game. Gabe Simmons went 3-4 with three RBI for the Falcons in the loss. Nation Ford fell to 18-8 overall on the season.
Mac Banks: mac@fortmillprepsports.com, @fortprep
